Seal assembly

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a seal assembly for dividing an annular space defined between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled pipeline. The seal assembly comprises an annular member ( 1 ) adapted to fit within the annular space and at least one longitudinal conveying means ( 6 ) passing through the annular member ( 1 ), wherein said longitudinal conveying means ( 6 ) communicates with the annular space on either side of the seal assembly. The longitudinal conveying means may comprise for example electrical conducting means or an optical fibre.

The present invention relates to double-walled pipelines used for transporting fluids such as oil and gas. In particular it relates to a seal assembly (also referred to as a water stop) for use in sealing an annular space between an inner pipe and an outer pipe in such a double-walled pipeline.

Pipelines carrying heavy or crude oil need to be thermally insulated as heavy oil tends to solidify during transport from a subsea production well to the surface due to heat losses in the submerged pipeline. Thermal insulation is also required to avoid the formation of hydrates which can occur for certain crude oil compositions when the crude oil cools down, for example, when there is a breakdown in production flow rate.

Production lines which require a high level of thermal insulation typically use a double-walled pipe structure, for example a pipe-in-pipe system. A pipe-in-pipe system comprises an internal pipe within an external pipe separated by an annulus volume. In such a structure, the annular space can be filled with thermal insulation material. This structure has the advantage that the external pipe keeps the annular space dry and so, for example, in subsea pipelines, the thermal insulation material is protected from water. A further advantage of this structure is that the pressure in the annulus can be different from that outside the external pipe and that inside the internal pipe. This is important if the insulating material has a particular pressure requirement or if a vacuum or partial vacuum is to be used for insulating purposes. For example, the annulus can be at atmospheric pressure while the hydrostatic pressure experienced by the external (or carrier) pipe and the internal pressure of the fluid in the internal pipe (flowline) are different. Furthermore it is interesting to lower the pressure in the annulus in order to increase the thermal insulation performance.

One of the problems associated with such pipelines is that of safeguarding the annular space against the ingress of water, for example due to leaks in the external or carrier pipe. Water in the annular space will conduct heat from the inner flowline to the carrier pipe thus destroying the effectiveness of the insulation. This problem has been approached in prior art pipe-in-pipe systems by compartmentalising the annular space by means of permanent seals (GB 2 317 934, U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,407, WO 00/09926).

Such prior art seals or waterstops are useful for compartmentalisation of the annulus in the longitudinal direction so that it can remain partially dry in case of a leak in the carrier pipe. However, such an arrangement has a major drawback when it is desired to combine passive thermal insulation with an active heating system which may require the use of electrical cabling or hoses with heat transfer fluid. Waterstops create discontinuities and block passage of any equipment running along the length of the production line, such as that which may be required for an active heating system.

The above problem is addressed by the seal assembly of the present invention.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a seal assembly for sealing an annular space defined between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled pipeline comprising an annular member and at least one longitudinal conveying means passing through the annular member, wherein said longitudinal conveying means communicate with the annular space on either side of the seal assembly.

Typically, the longitudinal conveying means comprises one or more electrical conduction.

Preferably the longitudinal conveying means comprises one or more heat transfer means and one or more optical fibres housed within optical fibre housing tubes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a seal assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line A-A′ in FIG. 3, of a seal according to the invention, with internal and external pipes shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a seal assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line A-A′;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line B-B′;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line C-C′;

FIG. 6 a is a view of the tie-straps shown in FIG. 6 from position E; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a seal assembly according to the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a seal assembly comprises an annular member (1), having a body (2) with inner and outer lips (3, 4), and longitudinal conveying means (6) passing therethrough. The annular member (1) may further comprise an insert (5) of steel or the like for strengthening/rigidity purposes.

The inner and outer lips (3, 4) preferably extend beyond the inner and outer circumference of the body (2) of the annular member (1). The inner and outer lips (3, 4) are preferably made of a resilient deformable material, typically a rubber or elastomeric material such as polyurethane for example. The body (2) of the annular member (1) is preferably made of a more rigid material, such as a harder polyurethane material, and may contain a strengthening insert (5) typically made of nylon or metal for example.

When the seal assembly (1) is inserted into the annular space between the inner and outer pipes (9, 10) of a pipe-in-pipe system (as shown in FIG. 2) the inner and outer lips (3, 4) are deformed wedging the annular member (1) in place. Thus the inner lip (3) forms a liquid tight seal against the outer wall (11) of the inner pipe (9) and the outer lip (4) forms a liquid tight seal against the inner wall (12) of the outer pipe (10).

Preferably said longitudinal conveying means (6) comprises electrical conducting means traversing the water stop. Typically the electrical conducting means may be in the form of a cable or of a rod. The electrical conducting means may comprise a rod traversing the waterstop that is connected at either end, via suitable connection means, to a cable running along the inner pipe between waterstops. The use of a rod with a relatively large cross section inserted directly within the waterstop body to convey electrical power alleviates the problem of overheating which could occur when using electrical heating cables inserted directly in the waterstop.

A sleeve (8) may be provided at the point between the inner and outer lips (3, 4) where the longitudinal conveying means exits the seal assembly. The sleeve (8) surrounds the longitudinal conveying means (6) and is moulded from the waterstop body (2). When the longitudinal conveying means (6) comprises a rod for conveying electrical power, a heat shrink sleeve may be used to surround the connection between the rod and the cable. In this case the heat shrink sleeve surrounds the sleeve (8) of the waterstop body (2) the connection and the cable end to ensure that the connection is completely insulated and protected against any ingress of water.

Typically the sleeve (8) will be formed via a moulded node formed in the annular member during manufacture. The longitudinal conveying means may then be put in place by forcing it through the node. Additional nodes (see 6 a FIG. 7) may be formed in the annular member which facilitate incorporation of additional longitudinal conveying means at a later date.

Longitudinal conveying means (6) facilitates communication through the seal assembly to the annular space on either side. Said longitudinal conveying means may optionally comprise heat transfer means, such a tube to connect heat transfer fluid hoses or information/data transfer means, such as an optical fibre, for example.

A backing ring (15, see FIG. 7) may be provided for connecting adjacent seal assemblies. The back ring (15) fixed to a shoulder on a waterstop body (2) may be attached to the back ring (15) of an adjacent seal assembly via a tie-strap (13) and suitable fixing means (14). Typically the fixing means (14) may comprise rivets, nut and bolts arrangements or the like.

Two or more different types of longitudinal conveying means may be used in combination. For example a seal assembly may comprise a plurality of copper rods used to convey electrical power to heating cables for heating the annular space in the pipe-in-pipe system together with one or more optical fibres for monitoring temperature within or curvature of the system. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an annular member (1) comprising four groups of three conductor rods (6 a) and two optical fibres (6 b).

In the case where the longitudinal conveying means comprises an optical fibre, the optical fibre may be housed in a tube passing through the seal assembly. A suitable sealant, such as an epoxy resin, may be introduced within the tube in order to ensure the sealing of the optical fibre within the seal assembly.

Generally unidirectional seal assemblies such as those shown in the FIG. 1 are used in pairs as illustrated in FIGS. 2 t 7, so that the combined effect is to prevent water flow in either direction. Between two unidirectional seal assemblies the longitudinal conveying means may be covered, for example a polyurethane sheath or coating (7) may be used to provide insulation (for example in the case where the longitudinal conveying means (6) comprises electrical conducting means). Furthermore, in the case where the longitudinal conveying means (6) comprises an optical fibre for monitoring temperature, the optical fibre may be in contact with the flow line pipe or with a metal element linked to the flow line pipe between two unidirectional seal assemblies. Cold spots may exist between two unidirectional waterstop assemblies in a pipe system using active heating since the heating cables do not contact the flow line pipe between the seal assemblies. The optical fibre arrangement described has the advantage that it facilitates monitoring of such cold spots.

The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a seal assembly comprising the steps of moulding a body (1) from a suitable material, moulding an end piece having inner and outer lips (3, 4) from a suitable material, sealably attaching said body (1) to said end piece and incorporating longitudinal conveying means which traverses the seal assembly.

Preferably, the method of the invention further comprises the step of forming one or more nodes in the end piece, said nodes are adapted to facilitate incorporation of the longitudinal conveying means. For example the nodes may be manufactured in such a manner that the longitudinal conveying means can be passed through the end piece in a heat shrink operation which forms a heat shrink seal between the end piece and the longitudinal conveying means (6).

Preferably, the nodes are in manufactured from a resilient material in the form of tubes, the diameter of which is less than that of the longitudinal conveying means. The longitudinal conveying means, for example an electrically conducting rod may then be forced through the resilient tubular node thus ensuring a good fit and seal between the end piece and the longitudinal conveying means.

One or more auxiliary or supplemental nodes (6 c) may be formed in the end piece in order to facilitate later incorporation of additional longitudinal conveying means. In an alternative manufacturing method, the waterstop body (1) can be moulded with the longitudinal conveying means (6) the mould.

The present invention also provides a pipe system comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe and a seal assembly described herein. For example the pipe system may comprise an inner pipe and an outer pipe with electrical heating cables running along the flow line or inner pipe, the electrical heating cable being connected to one or more rods traversing each seal assembly. Such a pipe system may further comprise heat dissipation means close to the seal assembly, at the point where the heating cable is lifted from the flow line to be connected to the rod of the seal assembly. Such heat dissipation means may comprise a thin aluminium layer wrapped around the external sheath of the cable and linked to the flow line so as to prevent overheating of the cable.

The design of the waterstop or seal assembly and the internal surface of the carrier pipe may provide for relative movement between the carrier pipe and the waterstop fixed on the flow line pipe. Such relative movement may be advantageous in that it facilitates a reduction of the number of in-line connections of the heating electrical cables required during manufacture of the pipe system.

The annular space in the pipe system may also comprise insulation material and/or one or more elements chosen from bulkheads to transfer loads (services or handling loads) between the carrier pipe and the flowline; spacers to centre the flowline within the carrier pipe; buckle arrestors to prevent the propagation of a buckle along the carrier pipe. Preferably the seal assemblies are installed near to buckle arrestors so that when buckle propagation is stopped, any water leak due to the buckle will not be allowed to proceed through the double walled pipeline annulus. 

1) A seal assembly for dividing an annular space defined between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled pipeline comprising an annular member adapted to fit within the annular space and at least one longitudinal conveying means passing through the annular member, wherein said longitudinal conveying means communicates with the annular space on either side of the seal assembly. 2) A seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the annular member comprise inner and outer lips adapted to sealably engage the inner and outer pipes. 3) A seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal conveying means comprises electrical conducting means. 4) A seal assembly according to claim 3 where the electrical conducting means comprises a rod or a cable or a plurality thereof. 5) A seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal conveying means comprises a rod traversing the annular member, said rod being adapted at one or both ends for connection to a cable. 6) A seal assembly according to claim 5 wherein the rod is connected at one or both ends to a cable, the seal assembly further comprising one or more sleeves covering the connections between said rod and said cable. 7) A seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal conveying means comprises one of more optical fibres housed within optical fibre housing tubes. 8) A seal assembly according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal conveying means comprises one or more heat transfer means. 9) A pipe system comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe and a seal assembly according to claim
 1. 10) A pipe system according to claim 9 comprising at least one pair of unidirectional seal assemblies. 11) A pipe system according to claim 10 wherein the longitudinal conveying means is at least partially insulated between each unidirectional seal of each pair of seal assemblies. 12) A method of manufacturing a seal assembly comprising the steps of moulding a body from a suitable material, moulding an end piece having inner and outer lips from a suitable material, sealably attaching said body (1) to said end piece and incorporating longitudinal conveying means which traverses the seal assembly. 13) A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of forming one or more nodes in the end piece, said nodes being adapted to facilitate incorporation of the longitudinal conveying means. 14) A method according to claim 13 wherein the nodes are in manufactured from a resilient material in the form of tubes, the diameter of which is less than that of the longitudinal conveying means. 15) A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of forming one or more auxiliary or supplemental nodes in the end piece. 